Seasonal Affective Disorder

Amz

Just noticed an awful lot of threads/posts from people complaining of symptoms of depression etc. and wondered if any of them contemplated that it might be SAD?

Given that it's the winter and many people who work long hours etc. don't get out much in the daylight it may be a possibility.

Many people reduce their physical activity levels during the winter months and this is really not what you want to be doing!

Also through observation of some of the users of the site a lot of people don't seem to get out and do any form of activity during the day when it's bright out, both in summer and in winter!

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder include;

Sleep problems: Usually desire to oversleep and difficulty staying awake but, in some cases, disturbed sleep and early morning wakening

Lethargy:Feeling of fatigue and inability to carry out normal routine

Overeating: Craving for carbohydrates and sweet foods, usually resulting in weight gain

Depression: Feelings of misery, guilt and loss of self-esteem, sometimes hopelessness and despair, sometimes apathy and loss of feelings

Social problems: Irritability and desire to avoid social contact

Anxiety: Tension and inability to tolerate stress

Loss of libido: Decreased interest in sex and physical contact

Mood changes: In some sufferers, extremes of mood and short periods of hypomania (overactivity) in spring and autumn.

Even if it's not SAD, it might be an idea for people to maybe go out and get some exercise during the day,go for a walk at lunch time or whatever just to get fresh air. Any form of physical activity can't hurt!

I guarantee you'll feel better for it!

po0k

Very good advice.

Amz

I realise it could be worse case scenario here, but I think it could be a very logical explanation for so many people feeling so down in the dumps or out of sorts.

feylya

Hee, I was about to start a thread about this. I was just diagnosed (by the college nurse admittedly) with having this.

Amz

Did she just advise photo therapy of some kind?

feylya

Na, gotta go see my GP on friday but she said it'd just be anti-depressants and sleeping tablets. Dodgy combination tbh.

She spoke about the full spectrum light thing though.

Amz

Blimey! Pills etc. so soon!

Didn't realise they'd be that drastic with it!

feylya

I've a history of it tbh. Previously diagnosed as depression.

Like I said, I have to go to my GP to get it checked properly but seeing as it's a chemical reaction in the brain due to the lack of light, pills are one of the only options.

Amz

Do you do any form of sport or much physical activity at all feylya?

feylya

Haha, no. I'm pretty close to your stereotypical nerd.

Amz

That'd explain a lot.

Would you even consider trying to increase your activity levels before going on to medication?

feylya

The problem is, I have feck all time to do anything except college work (third year, projects, etc).

Normally, I just go on the meds and deal with it until March or April, when it usually goes again

edibility

feylya wrote:

Na, gotta go see my GP on friday but she said it'd just be anti-depressants and sleeping tablets. Dodgy combination tbh.

She spoke about the full spectrum light thing though.

Fey, ask them about BrightLights. Both me and mum suffer from this and discovered that bright lights, those artifical lamps that replicate sunlight, actually really work.

ebon

Amz

OK, just wondered. Sorry if I was insulting in my previous post I wasn't intending to.

Surely you could make time or include some activity in your daily routine, such as getting off the bus a stop early, walking instead of driving/getting public transport, taking stairs instead of lifts/escalators.

Its incredible what a difference it can actually make!

Just the only way I can think of to deal with my own depression is through sport/physical activity.

Jim

Tbh feylya if things are that bad, I would try anything before going on meds.

feylya

See, I don't consider it to be that serious though. I just don't sleep well (currently getting to sleep at about 8am) and feeling pretty crappy at certain points during the day.

If I go anywhere in town, I usually walk and always use the stairs in the college. I suppose it couldn't hurt to run up and down the stairs a few more times a day

MistressPandora

Gods, I was reading through the list and saying to myself "Got that, and that, and that, oh that too..." but I dunno, I've been trying to get out more, but I work from 12 to 7 5 days a week, but my shift is gonna change from 5 to midnight 3 days a week next week, so hopefully I'll get out and take more photos...that'll get me outside more often.
Also, a friend is persuading me to take up swimming again too, so maybe there is hope for me...
But SAD isn't the only thing affecting me either, I get depressed all the time (if anyone remembers my thread about missing my cat last summer, don't worry if you don't), although more light might help...craving more light...

Amz

Seriously Pandora it'll make you feel a whole lot better!

If there's anything I can help with gimme a shout.

feylya

Some sites about SAD, might give a better insight.

http://www.sada.org.uk/
http://www.augsburg.edu/psych/vml/SAD.html

Amz

Had a look at them alright.

The main reason I'd encourage people to try exercise is because as a student of sports science and health we see so many examples of how exercsie/physical activity can greatly improve mood and physical health

Seraphina

yeah i get most of those symptoms, although tbh some of them were worse during the summer. **** happens, you gotta deal with it.
/me shrugs

Jim

Those shoulders must get a good workout.

feylya

Any chance we could get this pinned? There's some useful information in here, especially given the time of year.